Device for advancing film in a camera

ABSTRACT

A device for advancing non-perforated film in roll form from a supply spool to a take-up spool in a film holder attached to a camera includes a film winding lever secured to the camera which is operatively connected to film advancing members by a gear arrangement. As the film is advanced, the angular rotation of a guide roller for the film is detected so that the film can be moved forwardly a specific amount for each exposure. Further, as the film is rolled onto the take-up spool the rotation of the guide roller is used for operating a film frame member indicating dial for providing a visible indication of the number of exposures made.

[4 1 Mar. 12, 1974 DEVICE FOR ADVANCING FILM IN A CAMERA PrimaryExaminerJohn M. Horan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren and McGeady [75]Inventor: Norio Sakagami, Tokyo, Japan [57] ABSTRACT A device foradvancing non-perforated' film in roll form from a supply spool to atake [73] Assignee: Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1971 PP 196,065 holder attached to acamera includes a film winding lever secured to the camera which isoperatively con- [301 Foreign Application Priority Data nected to filmadvancing members by a gear arrangement. As the film is advanced, theangular rotation of a guide roller for the film is detected so that thefilm can be moved forwardly a specific amount for each exposure.Further, as the film is rolled onto the takeup spool the rotation of theguide roller is used for operating a film frame member indicating dialfor pro- 6 541 03 u w 3-um15 5 L 6 n l. m4 u M5 "n mw3 "n ,u U W u 2 .H'H/.. u 4 "u u 5 n m 3 m" n mnm a n D. u." a "H" J "n un fi O mmr 7 a 9".8 1 ms In. 1 v WM 0 mm N UIF ii] 7. 8 555 [ll [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS viding a visible indication of the number ofexposures made. 1

2,283,788 5/1942 Briechle............................... 95/125 4 Claims9 Drawing Figures PATENIEB MAR 12 I974 SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENTEUHAR 12 m4$797102? SHEET 3 UF 3 FIG.5

DEVICE FOR ADVANCING FILM IN A CAMERA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to a device for advancing film in cameras which usenon-perforated film of the Brownie format in roll form for producingpictures of various sizes, for instance, 6 X 9, 6 X 7 or 6 X 6.

In the past, it has been customary to advance film in cameras usingnon-perforated roll film by means of an index plate for successivelydecreasing the angle of rotation of the film take-up shaft to advancethe film a predetermined distance. However, some disadvantages areassociated with such conventional film advancing devices, for instance,the construction involved is complex and its production is madedifficult when such devices are intended for use in cameras for whichtwo types of non-perforated roll film are available. One such type offilm is Jl20 film which is provided with a backing sheet for its entirelength and another is a J 220 film which has a light intercepting sheetattached only to its leading end portion and trailing end portion, whilefor its major portion the backing sheet is omitted so that substantiallytwice the length of J22O film can be wound in roll form of substantiallythe same diameter as a roll of 1120 film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the object of this invention is toprovide a device for regulating the advance of film in roll form whichincludes guide rollers arranged to rotate in relation to film advance,with the rotation of a shaft supporting one of the guide rollers througha predetermined angle being detected and the film advance beinginterrupted so that the film can be moved a predetermined distance foreach film frame exposed.

Another object of the present invention is to rotate a film frameindicating dial in relation to the rotation of one of the guide rollers.

In accordance with the present invention, the device for advancing filmincludes guide rollers which permit a camera to use both 1120 film and1220 film without any alteration in the mechanism. The advance of oneframe of the film for each exposure is correctly regulated by a diskwhich is operatively associated with one of the guide rollers to rotatethrough a predetermined angle. This eliminates the indexing plate usedin the past with conventional roll film advance devices and simplifiesthe mechanism for advancing film.

A gear and a ratchet wheel are maintained in frictional engagement, sothat rotation of film transport gearing as a result of an increase inthe diameter of the film wound on the take up spool, as the film windinglever is operated through a predetermined angle, can be removed from thepower transmission system.

In the present invention, a pressing plate, which holds the film inposition, is released from engagement with the film as it is advanced sothat the film winding lever can be operated with a low force inadvancing the film smoothly. I

The various features of novelty which charcterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated and described a preferredembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of asingle-lens reflex camera incorporating a device according to thepresent invention for advancing film;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the film advancing device of thisinvention, shown with cover plate removed;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale takencentrally of the film advancing device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the film advancing device;

FIG. Sis a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the exposed film frame counting mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a partly exploded, partial perspective view of the arrangementin FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view, partly in section, of the operating means for theexposed film frame number counting mehanism of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the operating means of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The film advancing device,according to this invention, is mounted in a film holder 1 which can bedetachably mounted on the rear side of a camera 2, as shown in FIG. 1.Camera 2 is a single-lens reflex camera having a camera body 2a in whicha taking lens 2b is interchangeably mounted. Taking lens 2b can be movedback and forth along its optical axis through the agency ofa rack andpinion arrangement (not shown) to effect focusing when a knob 2c isoperated. A case 3 having a built-in finder optical system is detachablymounted on the upper side of camera body 2a. The finder optical systemis brought to an operative position in a dark chamber defined by case 3and a cover 3b which can be moved between a horizontal position and aninclined position due to a bellows 3a connected to the case and thecover.

An eyepiece 4 is mounted on the rear end surface of the case 3 so thaten erect image of the subject can be seen through eyepiece 4. A filmwinding lever 5 is pivotally mounted on shaft mounting knob 2c which isattached to one side of the camera body 2a. Pivoting of film windinglever 5 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 causes a gear 6mounted within and partly exposed on the rear side of camera body 2a torotate in the direction of the arrow shown alongside it. Gear 6 isplaced in meshed engagement with a connection gear 7, note FIG. 5, ofthe roll film feed device in film holder 1 when the holder is positionedon the rear side of camera body 2a. Film holder 1 is fixed in alighttight manner on the rear side of camera body by a locking lever 8.

Film holder 1, as shown in FIG. 2, consists of a holder for removablymounting a film supply spool 20 on which a roll of film is supported anda take-up spool 21 onto which the film is wound, a cover 10 providing alighttight enclosure for the film contained in holder 9, a filmadvancing device positioned in a section 9b shown in FIG. 4, and a lightintercepting plate-(not shown) for providing a lighttight cover over theexposing surface of the holder when it is detached from the camera body2a. Section 9b which houses the film advancing device, is covered with astyled cover 11.

A support 12 of rectangular box shape is disposed in a central portionof the holder 9 and is positioned at right angles to side wall 9a towhich it is affixed. The opposite side wall 9c, to which the support 12is secured, is cut out in its central portion. A plate spring 13 issecured to the central portion of support 12 and is positioned in thecutout portion of side wall 90. Pins 14 and 15, for supporting the endsof the supply spool and take-up spool, respectively, are secured toupper and lower end portions of plate spring 13 and extend toward sidewall 9a.

Additionally, the supply spool and take-up spool are rotatab supportedby pins 16 and17, shown in FIG. 4, which are located on the side wall9a.

In the holder 9, guide rollers 18 and 19 are disposed above and belowthe support 12 and are rotatably connected to side walls 9a and 9c attheir opposite ends. Guide rollers 18 and 19 guide the movement of afilm F between a film supply roll 20 supported by pins 14 and 16 and afilm take-up spool 21 supported by pins 16 and 17, as shown in FIG. 3.That is, the film F removed from the supply spool 20 is directed by theupper guide roller 18 toward the lower guide roller 19 which thendirects the film toward the take-up spool 21 onto which it is wound. Theportion of the film disposed between two rollers 18 and 19 is inposition to be exposed.

A pressing plate 22 is disposed in the holder 9 for engagement with therear side of the length of the film located between guide rollers 18 and19. The pressing plate 22 is supported by a holding bar 23 which extendsthrough support 12 at right angles to the pressing plate. The holdingbar is biased by an expansion coil spring 24 mounted between a flange23a attached to the bar 23 and the support 12, for urging the pressingplate 22 against the film.

Holding bar 23 functions to release the pressing plate 22 fromengagement with the film when the film is advanced. More specifically,when an arm 26, secured to a shaft 25 and extending through side wall9a, pushes and moves flange 23a against the biasing force of spring 24,holding bar 23 effects the release of the pressing plate 22 fromengagement with the film. An arm 27 mounted on the shaft 25, in spacedrelationship to the arm 26, rotates the shaft, as shown in FIG. 4 andFIG. 8 and which will be described later.

The connection gear 7, operatively connected to film winding lever 5, isshown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 in meshed engagement with a large diametergear 28 located in section 9b. A ratchet wheel 29, mounted coaxiallywith gear 28, has its ratchet disposed outwardly from the gear 28. Theratchet wheel 29 is maintained in frictional engagement with the gear 28by a coil spring 31 mounted between ratchet wheel 29 and a flange asecured to a shaft 30 on which both the gear 28 and wheel 29 aremounted.

A gear 32 of the same diameter as gear 28 is rotatably mounted on shaft30 on the opposite side of flange 30a from gear 28. Gear 32 carries alocking pawl 33, shown in FIG. 6, which is adapted to engage ratchetwheel 29. When connecting gear 7 rotates, gear 28 meshed with gear 7also rotates. Rotation of gear 28 causes ratchet wheel 29, maintained infrictional engagement with gear 28, to rotate, and the rotation of theratchet wheel through locking pawl 33 rotates gear 32 in the samedirection as gear 28.

Pin 17, supporting the take-up spool 21 is connected to one end of ashaft 34 which is rotatably supported by one side wall 9a as shown inFIG. 4. The other end of shaft 34 extends into section 9b and mounts agear 35 arranged in meshed engagement with gear 32. When the filmwinding lever 5 is operated, it rotates gears 28 and 32 clockwise inFIG. 5 and FIG. 6, and gear 35 rotates counter clockwise and causes,through pin 17, the film take-up spool 21 to rotate counter clockwise inFIG. 3, thereby winding the film.

A gear 37 rotates when a film winding knob 36 mounted on the exterior ofthe film holder 1 is operated and is in meshed engagement with gear 35.By means of gear 37 a leading end portion of the film is wound when thefilm is loaded in film holder 1, and a trailing end portion of the filmis wound when all the film has been exposed. When film winding knob 36is turned, gear 35 is driven by gear 37 and rotates the take-up spool21. During this operation the gear 32 rotates idly as it is rotated bygear 35. When film holder 1 is loaded with a roll of film and theleading end portion of the film is wound as knob 36 is operated, one hasonly to rotate knob 36 till the starting mark of the film can be seenthrough a window 22a formed in pressing plate 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

Rotatably supporting the upper guide roller 18 is a shaft 18a whichextends through side wall 9a into section 912, and supports at its end agear 38 disposed in meshed engagement with a gear 40 rotatably supportedby a shaft 39 connected to the side wall 9a. Mounted on shaft 39 is adisk 41 which rotates as a unit with gear 40. The disk 41 is formed onits circumferential periphery with a cutout 41a as shown in FIG. 5,andthe cutout 41a is normally maintained in a predetermined stationaryposition by the biasing force of a spring 42 mounted between disk 41 andan immovable member (not shown).

A locking member 43 includes an arm 43a containing a pawl 43b which isarranged to engage the cutout 41a when disk 41 makes one completerevolution. That is, locking member 43 is pivotally supported by a shaft44 connected to one side wall 9a and urged by the biasing force of aspring 45 to pivot counter clockwise about shaft 44. Pivotal movement oflocking member 43 is precluded by its other arm 430, which extends inthe vicinity of ratchet wheel 29, abutting against a pin 46 attached tothe gear 28. Formed at the end of the other arm 43c is a locking pawl43d which is brought into engagement with ratchet wheel 29 when the pawl43b at the end of arm 43a of the'locking member 43 drops into the cutout41a of disk 41, thereby terminating rotation of ratchet wheel 29.

A film frame number counting mechanism is provided on shaft 44 andcomprises, as shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, a ratchet wheel 47 rotatablymounted on shaft 44, a disk 48 which rotates as a unit with ratchetwheel 47, a disk 49 of the same diameter as disk 48, a film frame numberindication dial 50, a feed pawl 51, a re-' verse rotation check pawl 56afor ratchet wheel 47 and a spring (not shown) for restoring film framenumber indication dial 50 to its original or starting position.

The feed pawl 51 is loosely fitted to an eccentric disk 52 which isfitted on shaft 39 and rotates with the disk 41, shown in FIG. 5 as aunit. Feed pawl 51 is biased by a spring 53 to pivot clockwise aboutshaft 39. Ac-

cordingly, pawl 51 is maintaned in engagement with a serrated portion ofratchet wheel 47 and rotates ratchet wheel 47 a distance correspondingto one tooth thereof when the eccentric disk 52 makes one completerevolution.

On an arm 56 which is pivotally'mounted at its base on a shaft 54 andurged by a spring 55 to pivot clockwise about the shaft 54, a reverserotation check pawl 56a is formed and maintained in engagement with theratchet wheel 47. A free end portion 56b of arm 56 and an arm 51aextending from feed pawl 51 are adapted to be pushed and moved by aslide plate 57 which will be described later. When slide plate 57 moves,pawls 51 and 56a are released from engagement with ratchet wheel 47.

The disks 48 and 49 are connected to each other by pins, slots and aspring, and cutouts 48a, 48b and 48c and 49a, 49b and 49c are formed inouter peripheral edges of the disks 48 and 49, respectively, inpositions substantially equidistantly spaced apart from one anotheralong the disk peripheries. Upper disk 49 is formed with projections49d, 49e and 49f extending radially outwardly from the circumferentialperiphery thereof in positions continguous with those of cutouts 49a,49b and 49c.

Of projections 49d, 49e and 49f, projection 49d is arranged to engage alocking lever 62, as described later herein, when film frame numberindication dial 50 is moved to a film frame number count startingposition to indicate a start indication mark S in conjunction with thewinding of the leading end portion of the film. Projection 492 isarranged to engage the locking lever when the film frame numberindication dial 50 is moved to indicate the number of exposed frames of1120 type film or 8th frame, for example, in conjunction with thewinding of the film each time it is exposed. Projection 49f is arrangedto engage the locking lever when film frame number indication dial 50coupled to the winding of the film each time it is exposed indicates thenumber of exposed frames ofJ22O type film or 16th frame, for example.

Arcuate slots 58a, 58b and 580 are formed in the upper disk 49 forreceiving upright pins 59a, 59b and 59c, respectively, which areattached to the upper surface of the lower disk 48. An upright pin 60 isattached to the upper surface of upper disk 49 in a position betweenslots 58c and 58a, and a compression spring 61 is mounted between pin 60and pin 59c received in slot 58c. Accordingly, upper disk 49 is normallyurged by the biasing force of spring 61 to move in advance of lower disk48 within limits determined by slots 58a to 580 when the two disksrotate.

The limits on the advance movement of disk 49 relative to lower disk 48are such that the distance the former moves ahead of the latter issubstantially equal to the width of the cutouts so that the cutouts 49ato 49c of upper disk 49 may not overlap the cutouts 48a to 48c of lowerdisk 48 respectively. Accordingly, when upper disk 49 moves ahead oflower disk 48 during rotation, the cutouts of two disks are covered bythe marginal portions of the other disk so that the two disks appear asa composite complete disk having no cutouts in its edges when viewedfrom above or below. The locking lever 62 is adapted to engage the outerperiphery of the composite complete disk formed in this way.

More specifically, locking lever 62 which has the shape of a bellcrank,note FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a shaft 63attached to side wall 9a and one of its arms 62a has an upwardly bentmember 62b at its end. The other arm 620 of locking lever 62 extendsinto the vicinity of gear 32 and at an intermediate point it has a pawl62d which is adapted to engage gear 32 to stop its rotation, whenrequired. Further, arm 62c is formed at a side edge of its forward endportion with a downwardly bent member 62e. Locking lever 62 is normallyurged by a spring 64 to pivot counter clockwise about shaft 63. However,pivotal movement of locking lever 62 is precluded by bent member 62babutting against the outer peripheries of disks 48 and 49.

Disposed below the arm 620 of the locking lever is a locking arm 65which is pivotally mounted at its base on shaft 63 and is provided witha pawl 65b at a substantially intermediate portion of its free endportion 65a extending to a position in the vicinity of gear 28. The pawl65b is arranged to engage gear 28 when required to prevent the rotationof gear 28.

Locking arm 65 is biased by a spring 66 to pivot counter clockwise aboutshaft 63. The pivotal movement of arm 65 is precluded by a pin 67attached to the free end portion of arm 65 abutting against downwardlydirected bent portion 62e of locking lever 62.

Downwardly bent member 62e is intended to be pushed and moved otwardlyby a release member 68, which as shown in FIG. 6 is pivotally mounted atits base on a shaft 69 disposed near bent member 62e. A spring 70 urgesthe release member 68 to pivot clock wise about shaft 69. However, thepivotal movement is precluded by its free end portion 68a abuttingagainst a stopper pin 71 attachedto side wall 9a. If release lever 72positioned on the exterior of the film holder 1, as shown in FIG. 1 andFIG. 2, is operated, then release member 68 pivots .counter clockwiseabout shaft 69 against the biasing force of spring 70. Counter clockwisemovement of member 68 results in its free end portion 68a pushing andmoving downwardly bent member 62e so that locking lever 62 and lockingarm 65 pivot clockwise about shaft 63 against the biasing forces ofsprings 64 and 66, respectively, thereby releasing pawls 62d and 65bfrom engagement with gears 32 and 28, respectively.

Means for releasing feed pawl 51 and reverse rotation check pawl 56afrom engagement with ratchet wheel 47 of the exposed film frame numbercounting mechanism comprises a slide plate 57 located adjacent to theratchet wheel 47 and a bellcrank 73 causes slide plate 57 to move in asliding motion, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Slide plate 57 has guideslots 57a, 57a which receive pins 74, 74, respectively, attached to sidewall 9a so that plate 57 is slidable on side wall 9a. Pins 75 and 76 areformed on plate 57, and when the plate 57 moves in a sliding motion,pin75 pushes and moves an arm extending from feed pawl 51 and the pin 76pushes and moves free end portion 56b of arm 56 in which check pawl 56ais formed.

Formed in a side edge of an intermediate portion of slide plate 57 is afork 57b which receives therein one arm 73a of bellcrank 73 which ispivotally supported on a shaft 77 connected to a portion of side wall9a. The other arm 73b of the bellcrank 73 extends along the portion ofwall 9a and a pin 78 is attached to its upper end which is adapted to bepushed and moved by a projection 100, shown in FIG. 2, provided in cover10 when the cover is fitted over film holder 9.

A spring 79 biases the bellcrank 73 to pivot counter clockwise aboutshaft 77 in FIG. 9 as shaft 77 is viewed from the left. Accordingly,when cover 10 is removed from film holder 9, bellcrank 73 pivots counterclockwise about shaft 77 and its arm 73a causes slide plate 57 to movealong slots 57a, 570, so that pins 75 and 76 push and move arm 51a andfree end portion 56a of arm 56, respectively. This action releases thetwo pawls 51 and 56a from engagement with ratchet wheel 47.

If cover 10 is fitted over film holder 9, then pin 78 is pushed andmoved by projection 10a and bellcrank 73 pivots clockwise about shaft 77against the biasing force of spring 79, so that slide plate 57 moves insliding motion in a direction where pins 75 and 76 attached thereto moveaway from arm 51a and free end portion 56a, respectively. This bringsthe two pawls 51 and 56a into engagement with ratchet wheel 47.

The arm 27 mounted on the shaft 25 is arranged to engage an edge of acam 80 rotatably mounted on shaft 30 as shown in FIG. 8. Cam 80 is apartially cut-out disk, so that arm 27 moves in swinging motion as thecam 80 rotates. When arm 27 is moved counter clockwise in swingingmotion about the central axis of shaft 25 by cam 80, shaft 25 alsorotates counter clockwise. Thus, the arm 26 secured to shaft 25, asshown in FIG. 3, displaces flange 23a against the biasing force ofspring 24, and moves the pressing plate 22 away from the film. Cam 80 isattached to and acts as a unit with gear 28, so that cam 80 rotates whengear 28 is rotated.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a gear 81 is in meshed engagement withconnection gear 7 which, in turn, is meshed with gear 28. The gear 81 ismounted on a sleeve 81a loosely fitted over a shaft 82, so that gear 81is supported for rotation relative to shaft 82. A spiral spring 84connected at one end to an immovable pin 83 is connected at the otherend to sleeve 81a and urges gear 81 to rotate to a predeterminedposition at all times when the energy of resilience stored therein isreleased. This is effective to restore winding lever 5 and gears rotatedby the operation of lever 5 to their original positions.

More specifically, when winding lever 5 is operated to advance the film,gear 28, ratchet wheel 29 and gear 81 rotate clockwise in FIG. 5 throughthe agency of connection gear 7, and clockwise rotation of theseelements winds spiral spring 84 to store resilient energy. Upon releaseof winding lever 5, the resilient energy stored in spiral spring 84 isreleased and rotates gear 28, ratchet wheel 29 and lever 5 in thereverse direction through gears 81 and 7, and returns these elements totheir initial or original positions.

Numerals representing exposed film frame number superposed on framenumber indication dial 50, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, aresuccessively indicated in window 11a formed in cover 11.

The device for advancing film, as described above, operates in thefollowing manner: when cover is removed from film holder 9, note in FIG.2, bellcrank 73 shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 pivots about shaft 77 by thebiasing force of spring 79 and slide plate 57 slides along guide slots57a, 57a thereby causing pins 75 and 76 to release pins 75 and 76 fromengagement with ratchet wheel 47. This permits ratchet wheel 47 to berotated by the biasing force of a restoring spring (not shown) so as toindicate the start mark S of frame number indication dial 50 in window11a. In'this position, projection 49d of frame number indication dial 50is brought into engagement with upwardly bent portion 62b of lockinglever 62, however,since disks 48 and 49 are staggered relative to eachother a distance corresponding to the width of the cutouts, bent member62b is prevented from engaging in any one of the cutouts.

When the start mark S is indicated, take-up spool 21 is mounted betweensupport pins 15 and 17 and supply spool 20 on which a roll film ismounted between support pins 14 and 16. A leading end portion of thefilm is extended between guide rollers 18 and 19 and its front end iswound on take-up spool 21.

Winding knob 36, snown in FIG. 2 mounted on the outside of film holder1, is operated to advance the leading end portion of the film and windthe same on take-up spool 21. That is, if knob 36 is turned in thedirection of the arrow, then gear 34 is rotated through gear 37 androtates pin 17, thereby rotating take-up spool 21. Thus, the leading endportion of the film is wound on take-up spool 21. At this point in theoperation, the gear 32 in meshed engagement with gear 35 rotates, but itdoes so idly. It is to be understood that the film contained in filmholder is J 120 type film having a backing sheet attached to it in theembodiment described.

Then, winding knob 36 is further turned to advance the leading endportion of the film till the start mark superposed on the backing sheetof the film is exposed to view through window 22a formed in pressingplate 22, and cover 10 is fitted over film holder 9. Upon mounting cover10, the projection 10a of cover 10 pushes and moves pin 78 shown in FIG.8 and causes bellcrank 73 to pivot against the biasing force of spring79 and slide plate 57 to slide in a direction where pins and 76 aremoved away from arm 51a and free end portion 56b, respectively. Thismovement positions pawls 51 and 56a in engagement with ratchet wheel 47,so that subsequent advance of the film is indicated by the frame numberindication dial 50.

Film holder I loaded with a roll of film in this way, is attachedlighttight to the rear portion of the camera body 2 by means of locklever 8 as shown in FIG. 1, and

a light-intercepting plate (not shown) is removed from film holder 1.With the film holder 1 attached to the camera body 2, the connectiongear 7 is in meshed engagement with gear 6 in the camera body 2 andthereafter the film can be advanced by operating the winding lever 5 onthe camera body.

Then, several dry runs or movements of the film, i.e., about threeframes, are made until the numeral 1 on frame number indication dial 50appears in window 11a. More specifically, if winding lever 5 is turnedslightly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, then gear 28 isrotated through gears 6 and 7 and take-up spool 21 is rotated by meansof the ratchet wheel 29, locking pawl 33 and gear 35, so that the filmis advanced. Advancing the film results in rotation of guide roller 18which in turn causes gear 40 to rotate through gear 38 secured to theshaft of roller 18, whereby pawl 51 begins to rotate the ratchet wheel47. Rotation of ratchet wheel 47 causes disk 48, which is integral withratchet wheel 47, to rotate. However, disk 49 disposed above disk 48 andconnected theeto through spring 61, slots and pins remains stationarybecause the projection 46d thereof is maintained in engagement withupwardly bent member 62b of locking lever 62 and the two disks 48 and 49are brought out of phase with each other.

If the cutouts formed in disks 48 and 49 are vertically aligned with oneanother, then bent member 62b is engaged in one set of cutouts 48a and49a. When bent portion 62b is engaged in one set of cutouts 48a and 4%,locking lever 62 and locking arm 65 pivot counter clockwise about shaft63 and bring pawls 62d and 65b into engagement with gears 32 and 28,respectively, thereby temporarily terminating film advance. This informsthe operator that the film has been positively advanced. When this stateis realized, one has only to operate release lever 72 to cause releasemember 68 shown in FIG. 6 to pivotcounter clockwise about shaft 69against the biasing force of spring 70.

When member 68 pivots it results in its free end portion 680 movingdownwardly bent portion 62e of locking lever 62 outwardly, and thelocking lever 62 pivots counter clockwise about sxaft 63 against thebiasing force of spring 64. Clockwise pivoting of lever 62 results inthe upwardly bent portion 62b being released from engagement in one setof cutouts 48a and 49a and at the same time results in the release ofupwardly bent portion 62b from engagement with projection 49d. Thisallows upper disk 49 urged by the biasing force of spring 61 to moveahead of lower disk 48 a distance corresponding to the width of thecutouts, so that two disks 48 and 49 form a composite complete disk whenviewed from above or below.

Further, clockwise pivoting of the locking lever 62 releases pawl 62dfrom engagement with gear 32, and paw] 65b is released from engagementwith gear 28 when downwardly bent member 62e of lever 62 moves pin 67outwardly. Even if the force exerted on release lever 72 is removed atthis time, pawls 62d and 65b remains out of engagement with gears 32 and28, respectively, because the upwardly bent portion 62b is maintained inengagement with the peripheries of two disks 48 and 49, therebypermitting gears 38 and 32 to rotate freely.

.Accordingly, if winding lever 5 is continuously turned in the directionof the arrow shown in FIG. 1, then gear 28 is rotated through gears 6and 7 and takeup spool 21 is rotated through ratchet wheel 29, lockingpawl 33 and gear 35, and the film is advanced. Rotation of gear 28results in the rotation of pin 46 integral with it, thereby releasingpin 46 from engagement with locking member 43 and leaving locking member43 free to pivot counter clockwise about shaft 44 in FIG. 5 by virtue ofthe biasing force of spring 45.

However, when locking member 43 pivots counter clockwise, cutout 41a inthe edge of disk 41 has moved from a position in which it is engaged bythe pawl 43b of member 43 because disk 41 rotates in conjunction withfilm advance with gear 40 as a unit through the agency of gear 38. Thus,counter clockwise pivoting of locking member 43 merely results in itspawl 43b being brought into pressing engagement with the periphery ofdisk 41.

When the film is advanced in this way and disk 41 makes one completerevolution so that the cutout 41a is brought again to the position inwhich it is positioned against pawl 43b of member 43, pawl 43b isbrought into engagement with cutout 41a, and the rotation of the disk 41is stopped. If disk 41 stops rotating, then gears 40 and 38 also stop,so tha guide roller 18 stops rotating.

On the other hand, when pawl 43b is brought into engagement with cutout41a, locking member 43 is urged by the biasing force of spring 45 topivot counter clockwise about shaft 44, and pawl 43d at the end of theother arm 43c is brought into engagement with ratchet wheel 29, and therotation of the ratchet wheel 29 is prevented. lf ratchet wheel 29 stopsrotating, then the gear 32, which rotates with ratchet wheel through thelocking pawl 33, also stops rotating. Accordingly, the take-up spool 21stops rotating, and the advance of the film a distance corresponding toone frame is completed. As the film is being advanced the distance ofone frame, the pressing plate 22 is displaced out of the path of travelof the film by cam 80 which rotates, as a unit, with gear 28.

If disk 41 makes one complete revolution, then ratchet wheel 47 is moveda distance corresponding to one tooth thereof, and film frame numberindication dial rotates an amount corresponding to the advance of oneframe of the film. This completes the operation of advancing the film byone frame. If the force exerted by hand on winding lever 5 is removed atthis time, then winding lever 5, gears 81, 6, 7 and 28 and ratchet wheel29 are rotated in the reverse direction as the resilient energy storedin restoring spring 84 is released, so that they return to theiroriginal positions. The rotation of gear 28 in the reverse directionbrings pin 46 into engagement with the arm 43c of locking member 43 andpin 46 moves arm 43c, so that locking member 43 pivots clockwise aboutshaft 44 against the biasing force of spring 45, pawl 43b is re leasedfrom engagement in cutout 41a and it stands ready for the next filmadvancing operation.

A few dry runs or movements of the film can be made in this way bedepressing a shutter button B, shown in FIG. 1, provided camera body 2.Since the camera described in this embodiment is provided withselfcocking means, it is impossible to depress shutter button unless thefilm is advanced.

Accordingly, if the shutter button is depressed after the film isadvanced and a few dry runs are made by repeating the operation ofwinding the film and depressing the shutter button two or three times,the numeral 1 of film frame number dial 50 will appear in window 11a andthe camera will be ready to take a picture.

Accordingly, the film is advanced each time an exposure is made. Whenfilm frame indication dial 50 has rotated to a position in which thelast frame of a 1120 roll of film is to be exposed, the projection 49dof disk 49 is brought into engagement with the upwardly bent portion 62bof locking lever 62. If winding lever 5 is operated after the finalexposure is made, the exposed film is advanced slightly and the lowerdisk 48 rotates slightly, so that the cutouts 48a to 480 of lower diskare brought into vertical alignment with the cutouts 49a to 490 of upperdisk 49. When disks 48 and 49 are in this position, upwardly bentportion 62b is brought into engagement with a set of cutouts 48b and49b, and pawls 62d and 65b are brought into engagement with gears 32 and28 respectively. Thus, gears 32 and 28 stop rotating and film advance isprecluded.

Thereafter, winding knob 36 is operated to advance the rest of the filmand the trailing end portion. More specifically, release lever 72 isoperated to release pawls 62d and 65b from engagement with gears 32 and28 respectively through release member 69. Then, winding knob 36 isoperated to rotate the take-up spool 21.

ill

The embodiment has been shown and described using a roll of film of theJ120 type. If a roll of film of the J220 type is used, one has only tooperate release lever 72 when upwardly bent portion 62b is brought intoengagement with a set of cutouts 48b and 4% so as to cause locking lever62 and locking arm 65 to pivot counter clockwise about shaft 63 andbring bent portion 62b out of engagement with cutouts 48b and-49b and,at the same time, release pawls 62d and 65b from engagement with gears32 and 28, respectively.

Disk 49 is angularly rotated by the biasing force of spring 61 when bentportion 62b is released from engagement with cutouts 48b and 49b,thereby bringing disks 48 and 49 to a position in which they contributea composite complete disk as seen from above or below. Th s brings pawls62d and 65b out of engagement with gears 32 and 28, respectively, andpermits the film to advance each time exposure is made. After the lastframe of the film is exposed, the projection 49d of disk 49 is broughtinto engagement with the upwardly bent portion 62b of locking lever 62.Thereafter, the film can be advanced in the manner as described withreference to the roll of J120 film.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for advancing film in a camera from a film supply spool to afilm take-up spool, comprising a film winding lever mounted on saidcamera, a first gear, first means arranged to be actuated by saidwinding lever and to rotate said first gear, a first shaft forsupporting said first gear, a ratchet wheel positioned on said firstshaft, second means for maintaining said ratchet wheel in frictionalengagement with said first gear, a second gear, third means interposedbetween said ratchet wheel and said second gear for rotating said secondgear in one direction only, a third gear in meshed engagement with saidsecond gear, fourth means arranged to rotate said film take-up spool anddisposed in operative engagement with said third gear, a second shaftand a guide roller positioned on said second shaft and arranged forguiding the film passing from said supply spool to said take-up spool, athird shaft, fifth means for rotating said third shaft from said secondshaft, a disk having a cutout in its circumferential periphery securedto said second shaft, a locking member arranged to engage within thecutout in said disk after said disk has rotated through a predeterminedangle and to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheel and interrupt themovement of the film, a feed pawl fitted into said third shaft, filmframe number indication means including a dial arranged to be rotated bysaid feed pawl, a locking lever and a locking arm disposed incooperating relationship for stopping the movement of said film framenumber dial and of the film when said dial has advanced to a film framecount starting position, a pressing plate arranged to contact the filmbetween said supply spool and said take-up spool when the film isstationary, a cam secured to said first shaft, means associated withsaid cam and said pressing plate for moving said pressing plate awayfrom the film as the film is advanced from said supply spool to saidtake-up spool, said locking member is pivotally mounted between saiddisk and said ratchet wheel and comprises a pair of arms extendingoppositely from the location at which said locking member is pivotallymounted, one of said arms having a pawl arranged to engage a cutout insaid disk and the other said arm having an engaging pawl arranged toengage said ratchet wheel.

2. A device for advancing film in a camera from a film supply spool to afilm take-up spool, comprising a film winding lever mounted on saidcamera, a first gear, first means arranged to be actuated by saidwinding lever and to rotate said first gear, a first shaft forsupporting said first gear, a ratchet wheel positioned on said firstshaft, second means for maintaining said ratchet wheel in frictionalengagement with said first gear, a second gear, third means interposedbetween said ratchet wheel and said second gear for rotating said secondgear in one direction only, a third gear in meshed engagement with saidsecond gear, fourth means arranged to rotate said film take-up spool anddisposed in operative engagement with said third gear, a second shaftand a guide roller positioned on said second shaft and arranged forguiding the film passing from said supply spool to said take-up spool, athird shaft, fifth means for rotating said third shaft from said secondshaft, a disk having a cutout in its circumferential periphery securedto said second shaft, a locking member arranged to engage within thecutout in said disk after said disk has rotated through a predeterminedangle and to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheel and interrupt themovement of the film, a feed pawl fitted into said third shaft, filmframe number indication means including a dial arranged to be rotated bysaid feed pawl, a locking lever and a locking arm disposed incooperating relationship for stopping the movement of said film framenumber dial and of the film when said dial has advanced to a film framecount starting position, a pressing plate arranged to contact the filmbetween said supply spool and said take-up spool when the film isstationary, a cam secured to said first shaft, means associated withsaid cam and said pressing plate for moving said pressing plate awayfrom the film as the film is advanced from said supply spool to saidtake-up spool, said second means comprises a flange secured on saidfirst shaft, and a spring extending between said flange and said ratchetwheel for biasing said ratchet wheel into frictional engagement withsaid first gear.

3. A device for advancing film in a camera from a film supply spool to afilm take-up spool, comprising a film winding lever mounted on saidcamera, a first gear, first means arranged to be actuated by saidwinding lever and to rotate said first gear, a first shaft forsupporting said first gear, a ratchet wheel positioned on said firstshaft, second means for maintaining said ratchet wheel in frictionalengagement with said first gear, a second gear, third means interposedbetween said ratchet wheel and said second gear for rotating said secondgear in one direction only, a third gear in meshed engagment with saidsecond gear, forth means arranged to rotate said film take-up spool anddisposed in operative engagement with said third gear, a second shaftand a guide roller positioned on said second shaft and arranged forguiding the film passing from said supply spool to said take-up spool, athird shaft, fifth means for rotating said third shaft from said secondshaft, a disk having a cutout in its circumferential periphery securedto said second shaft, a locking member arranged to engage within thecutout in said disk after said disk has rotated through a predeterminedangle and to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheel and interrupt themovement of the film, a feed pawl fitted into said third shaft, filmframe number indication means including a dial arranged tobe rotated bysaid feed pawl, a locking lever and a locking arm disposed incooperating relation ship for stopping the movement of said film framenumber dial and of the film when said dial has advanced to a film framecount starting position, a pressing plate arranged to contact the filmbetween said supply spool and said take-up spool when the film isstationary, a cam secured to said first shaft, means associated withsaid cam and said pressing plate for moving said pressing plate awayfrom the film as the film is advanced from said supply spool to saidtake-up spool, said frame member indication means comprises a fifthshaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said fifth shaft, a firstdisk-like member mounted on said fifth shaft and arranged to rotate withsaid ratchet wheel as a unit, a second disk-like member mounted on saidfifth shaft and having the same diameter as said first disk-like member,and means interconnecting said first and second disk-like members andsaid dial being mounted on said fifth shaft.

4. A device for advancing film in a camera from a film supply spool to afilm take-up spool, comprising a film winding lever mounted on saidcamera, a first gear, first means arranged to be actuated by saidwinding lever and to rotate said first gear, a first shaft forsupporting said first gear, a ratchet wheel positioned on said firstshaft, second means for maintaining said ratchet wheel in frictionalengagement with said first gear, a second gear, third means interposedbetween said ratchet wheel and said second gear for rotating said secondgear in one direction only, a third gear in meshed engagement with saidsecond gear, fourth means arranged to rotate said film take-up spool anddisposed in operative engagement with said third gear, a second shaftand a guide roller positioned on said second shaft and arranged forguiding the film passing from said supply spool to said take-up spool, athird shaft, fifth means for rotating said third shaft from said secondshaft, a disk having a cutout in its circumferential periphery securedto said second shaft, a locking member arranged to engage within thecutout in said disk after said disk has rotated through a predeterminedangle and to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheel and interrupt themovement of the film, a feed pawl fitted into said third shaft, filmframe number indication means including a dial arranged to be rotated bysaid feed pawl, a locking lever and alocking arm disposed in cooperatingrelationship for stopping the movement of said film frame number dialand of the film when said dial has advanced to a film frame countstarting position, a pressing plate arranged to contact the film betweensaid supply spool and said take-up spool when the film-is stationary, acam secured to said first shaft, means associated with,said cam and saidpressing plate for moving said pressing plate away from the film as thefilm is advanced from said supply spool to said take-up spool, saidmeans associated with said cam and said pressing plate comprising asixth shaft, a first arm' secured to said sixth shaft and extending intocontact with said cam, and a second arm secured to said sixth shaft andspaced in the axial direction of said shaft from said first arm, aholding bar secured to said pressing plate, and a flange fixed to saidholding bar and said second arm extending into contact with said flangefor displacing said pressing plate.

1. A device for advancing film in a camera from a film supply spool to afilm take-up spool, comprising a film winding lever mounted on saidcamera, a first gear, first means arranged to be actuated by saidwinding lever and to rotate said first gear, a first shaft forsupporting said first gear, a ratchet wheel positioned on said firstshaft, second means for maintaining said ratchet wheel in frictionalengagement with said first gear, a second gear, third means interposedbetween said ratchet wheel and said second gear for rotating said secondgear in one direction only, a third gear in meshed engagement with saidsecond gear, fourth means arranged to rotate said film take-up spool anddisposed in operative engagement with said third gear, a second shaftand a guide roller positioned on said second shaft and arranged forguiding the film passing from said supply spool to said take-up spool, athird shaft, fifth means for rotating said third shaft from said secondshaft, a disk having a cutout in its circumferential periphery securedto said second shaft, a locking member arranged to engage within thecutout in said disk after said disk has rotated through a predeterminedangle and to stop the rotation of said ratchet wheel and interrupt themovement of the film, a feed pawl fitted into said third shaft, filmframe number indication means including a dial arranged to be rotated bysaid feed pawl, a locking lever and a locking arm disposed incooperating relationship for stopping the movement of said film framenumber dial and of the film when said dial has advanced to a film framecount starting position, a pressing plate arranged to contact the filmbetween said supply spool and said take-up spool when the film isstationary, a cam secured to said first shaft, means associated withsaid cam and said pressing plate for moving said pressing plate awayfrom the film as the film is advanced from said supply spool to saidtake-up spool, said locking member is pivotally mounted between saiddisk and said ratchet wHeel and comprises a pair of arms extendingoppositely from the location at which said locking member is pivotallymounted, one of said arms having a pawl arranged to engage a cutout insaid disk and the other said arm having an engaging pawl arranged toengage said ratchet wheel.
 2. A device for advancing film in a camerafrom a film supply spool to a film take-up spool, comprising a filmwinding lever mounted on said camera, a first gear, first means arrangedto be actuated by said winding lever and to rotate said first gear, afirst shaft for supporting said first gear, a ratchet wheel positionedon said first shaft, second means for maintaining said ratchet wheel infrictional engagement with said first gear, a second gear, third meansinterposed between said ratchet wheel and said second gear for rotatingsaid second gear in one direction only, a third gear in meshedengagement with said second gear, fourth means arranged to rotate saidfilm take-up spool and disposed in operative engagement with said thirdgear, a second shaft and a guide roller positioned on said second shaftand arranged for guiding the film passing from said supply spool to saidtake-up spool, a third shaft, fifth means for rotating said third shaftfrom said second shaft, a disk having a cutout in its circumferentialperiphery secured to said second shaft, a locking member arranged toengage within the cutout in said disk after said disk has rotatedthrough a predetermined angle and to stop the rotation of said ratchetwheel and interrupt the movement of the film, a feed pawl fitted intosaid third shaft, film frame number indication means including a dialarranged to be rotated by said feed pawl, a locking lever and a lockingarm disposed in cooperating relationship for stopping the movement ofsaid film frame number dial and of the film when said dial has advancedto a film frame count starting position, a pressing plate arranged tocontact the film between said supply spool and said take-up spool whenthe film is stationary, a cam secured to said first shaft, meansassociated with said cam and said pressing plate for moving saidpressing plate away from the film as the film is advanced from saidsupply spool to said take-up spool, said second means comprises a flangesecured on said first shaft, and a spring extending between said flangeand said ratchet wheel for biasing said ratchet wheel into frictionalengagement with said first gear.
 3. A device for advancing film in acamera from a film supply spool to a film take-up spool, comprising afilm winding lever mounted on said camera, a first gear, first meansarranged to be actuated by said winding lever and to rotate said firstgear, a first shaft for supporting said first gear, a ratchet wheelpositioned on said first shaft, second means for maintaining saidratchet wheel in frictional engagement with said first gear, a secondgear, third means interposed between said ratchet wheel and said secondgear for rotating said second gear in one direction only, a third gearin meshed engagment with said second gear, forth means arranged torotate said film take-up spool and disposed in operative engagement withsaid third gear, a second shaft and a guide roller positioned on saidsecond shaft and arranged for guiding the film passing from said supplyspool to said take-up spool, a third shaft, fifth means for rotatingsaid third shaft from said second shaft, a disk having a cutout in itscircumferential periphery secured to said second shaft, a locking memberarranged to engage within the cutout in said disk after said disk hasrotated through a predetermined angle and to stop the rotation of saidratchet wheel and interrupt the movement of the film, a feed pawl fittedinto said third shaft, film frame number indication means including adial arranged to be rotated by said feed pawl, a locking lever and alocking arm disposed in cooperating relation ship for stopping themovement of said film frame number dial and of the film when said dialhaS advanced to a film frame count starting position, a pressing platearranged to contact the film between said supply spool and said take-upspool when the film is stationary, a cam secured to said first shaft,means associated with said cam and said pressing plate for moving saidpressing plate away from the film as the film is advanced from saidsupply spool to said take-up spool, said frame member indication meanscomprises a fifth shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said fifthshaft, a first disk-like member mounted on said fifth shaft and arrangedto rotate with said ratchet wheel as a unit, a second disk-like membermounted on said fifth shaft and having the same diameter as said firstdisk-like member, and means interconnecting said first and seconddisk-like members and said dial being mounted on said fifth shaft.
 4. Adevice for advancing film in a camera from a film supply spool to a filmtake-up spool, comprising a film winding lever mounted on said camera, afirst gear, first means arranged to be actuated by said winding leverand to rotate said first gear, a first shaft for supporting said firstgear, a ratchet wheel positioned on said first shaft, second means formaintaining said ratchet wheel in frictional engagement with said firstgear, a second gear, third means interposed between said ratchet wheeland said second gear for rotating said second gear in one directiononly, a third gear in meshed engagement with said second gear, fourthmeans arranged to rotate said film take-up spool and disposed inoperative engagement with said third gear, a second shaft and a guideroller positioned on said second shaft and arranged for guiding the filmpassing from said supply spool to said take-up spool, a third shaft,fifth means for rotating said third shaft from said second shaft, a diskhaving a cutout in its circumferential periphery secured to said secondshaft, a locking member arranged to engage within the cutout in saiddisk after said disk has rotated through a predetermined angle and tostop the rotation of said ratchet wheel and interrupt the movement ofthe film, a feed pawl fitted into said third shaft, film frame numberindication means including a dial arranged to be rotated by said feedpawl, a locking lever and a locking arm disposed in cooperatingrelationship for stopping the movement of said film frame number dialand of the film when said dial has advanced to a film frame countstarting position, a pressing plate arranged to contact the film betweensaid supply spool and said take-up spool when the film is stationary, acam secured to said first shaft, means associated with said cam and saidpressing plate for moving said pressing plate away from the film as thefilm is advanced from said supply spool to said take-up spool, saidmeans associated with said cam and said pressing plate comprising asixth shaft, a first arm secured to said sixth shaft and extending intocontact with said cam, and a second arm secured to said sixth shaft andspaced in the axial direction of said shaft from said first arm, aholding bar secured to said pressing plate, and a flange fixed to saidholding bar and said second arm extending into contact with said flangefor displacing said pressing plate.